State of Stanford: Departures, Decommitment

David Lombardi

01/16/2014

The departures of David Yankey, Ed Reynolds, and Cam Fleming leave Stanford with some holes to fill in 2014. We discuss the impact of the moves in detail and also provide an update on the recruiting front, where the Cardinal has lost the commitment of 2014 safety Kirk Tucker.

Three Departures
Days after A.J. Tarpley and Henry Anderson announced their
intentions to return to Stanford for their fifth years of
eligibility, David Yankey, Ed Reynolds, and Cam Fleming all declared
for the NFL Draft. Yankey and Reynolds were expected to leave, while
Fleming appeared to have to the toughest decision of the players
deciding what to do with their fifth year of eligibility. On track
to finish his degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics this year, he
ultimately decided to go pro a day before the January 15 deadline.

Offensive Line: 2012 Put to the Test
That means the future is now for Stanford -- particularly along the
offensive line and at the safety position. David Shaw did fantastic
work on the recruiting trail in his first year on the head coaching
job, and those efforts will be thrust into the spotlight in 2014:
All five projected starters on the Cardinal's offensive line will be
products of the program's heralded 2012 class.

Left tackle Andrus Peat will be the only one with a full season's
worth of starting experience. Josh Garnett, the likely left guard,
has started one game. The projections for center, right guard, and
right tackle reside with Graham Shuler, Johnny Caspers, and Kyle Murphy, respectively. If those three earn nods at those positions,
they'll be forced to gel quickly, as the September 6 match-up
against USC will mark just their second career start.

The 6-foot-7, 318-pound Peat is first round material, and some have
even speculated that he may leave to the NFL after his junior
season. Murphy's fantastic footwork immediately positions him to be
a force on the right side, while Garnett's extensive experience at
the Cardinal's 'Ogre' position should help him in his quest to fill
Yankey's big shoes on the left side. Stanford's biggest questions
come at center and right guard, where Shuler and Caspers have not
seen nearly as much playing time as their other three classmates.

Caspers has added about 30 pounds of strength since his arrival at
Stanford, and that physical development earned him some time at the
Ogre spot in 2013. Meanwhile, Shaw has regarded Shuler as the
Cardinal's most athletic center in this era of unprecedented
success. The junior will be counted on to have a full mental grasp
of the position that directs the offensive line.

Depth of the Hogs
Since Stanford employs more than five offensive linemen in many of
its formations, its depth up front will be truly tested next season.
Dillon Bonnell, who played the Ogre in 2012 before Garnett unseated
him at that spot in 2013, has a fifth year of eligibility remaining
and can presumably re-assume his old role moving forward. Tackle
Brendon Austin (6-6, 304 pounds) has developed well physically, and
is certainly in position to earn playing time next season. Nick Davidson (6-7, 289 pounds) is a year younger, and another offseason
of strengthening can put him in line to contribute as well. Amongst
the youngsters, freshman Thomas Oser's versatility should make him a
valuable utility next season. Walk-on Lucas Hinds (6-4, 290) also
has intriguing size.

Line coach Mike Bloomgren has done a fantastic job developing the
Cardinal's front and coordinating the team's running game. The 2014
season offers him a unique yet promising challenge: On signing day
in 2012, some said Stanford's offensive line haul could become the
best in college football history. With Yankey, Fleming, Khalil Wilkes, and Kevin Danser all departing, the opportunity is there to
translate stellar recruiting rankings into dominant on-field
performance.

A Big Question Mark at Free SafetyReynolds' departure opens a precarious void in Stanford's
defensive backfield. Devon Carrington, the Cardinal's second-string
free safety, exhausted his eligibility this season, so the Cardinal
will now be forced to scramble to effectively fill the position. The
situation has been complicated by the medical retirement of Drew Madhu (concussions), who was Reynolds' heir apparent at the
position.

A Zach Hoffpauir move to free safety appears unlikely. He came into
Stanford as a strong safety and has since moved to contribute at
nickel back, where he'll likely be needed to at least partially fill
Usua Amanam's void next year. The Cardinal have moved quarterback
Dallas Lloyd to the safety position. He played there early in his
high school career and certainly has the physical build (6-3, 212
pounds) to handle the job. In the interview below, Lloyd told me
that his experience as a quarterback will help him learn the mental
aspect of the safety position.

Stanford may also consider moving cornerback Wayne Lyons to free
safety. He was a highly touted recruit at that position coming out
of high school and showed the necessary physical prowess in run
support from cornerback in 2013. Such a move would open up a spot on
the perimeter opposite Alex Carter, and Ronnie Harris would
presumably be a leading candidate to start in Lyons' place.

Tucker De-Commits: A Recruiting Blow
The Cardinal's incoming recruiting class has some talent in the
defensive backfield, too, and early playing time for one of next
year's incoming freshman should not be ruled out, either. Safeties
Brandon Simmons and Denzel Franklin are both expected to sign with
Stanford on February 5. The class did suffer a blow, though, when
Georgia speedster Kirk Tuckerwas
not admitted to Stanford. He de-committed from the school on
Wednesday and is reopening his recruitment.

It all adds up to a rather precarious situation in Stanford's
defensive backfield. It's one that can be quickly fixed if Lloyd can
make an effective transition to the free safety position, but that
obviously remains a big question mark at this early point in the
offseason. A few key variables here have not broken in the
Cardinal's favor lately, so the program's ability to improvise and
adapt will be put to the test in 2014.

Are you fully subscribed to The
Bootleg? If not, then you are missing out on
all the top Cardinal coverage we provide daily on our
award-winning website. Sign up today for the biggest and best in
Stanford sports coverage with TheBootleg.com
(sign-up)!

\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThree Departures\r\nDays after A.J. Tarpley and Henry Anderson announced their\r\nintentions to return to Stanford for their fifth years of\r\neligibility, David Yankey, Ed Reynolds, and Cam Fleming all declared\r\nfor the NFL Draft. Yankey and Reynolds were expected to leave, while\r\nFleming appeared to have to the toughest decision of the players\r\ndeciding what to do with their fifth year of eligibility. On track\r\nto finish his degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics this year, he\r\nultimately decided to go pro a day before the January 15 deadline.\r\n\r\n\"I'm not leaving here without my degree,\" Fleming told me before the\r\nRose Bowl.\r\n\r\nOffensive Line: 2012 Put to the Test\r\nThat means the future is now for Stanford -- particularly along the\r\noffensive line and at the safety position. David Shaw did fantastic\r\nwork on the recruiting trail in his first year on the head coaching\r\njob, and those efforts will be thrust into the spotlight in 2014:\r\nAll five projected starters on the Cardinal's offensive line will be\r\nproducts of the program's heralded 2012 class.\r\n\r\nLeft tackle Andrus Peat will be the only one with a full season's\r\nworth of starting experience. Josh Garnett, the likely left guard,\r\nhas started one game. The projections for center, right guard, and\r\nright tackle reside with Graham Shuler, Johnny Caspers, and Kyle Murphy, respectively. If those three earn nods at those positions,\r\nthey'll be forced to gel quickly, as the September 6 match-up\r\nagainst USC will mark just their second career start. \r\n\r\nThe 6-foot-7, 318-pound Peat is first round material, and some have\r\neven speculated that he may leave to the NFL after his junior\r\nseason. Murphy's fantastic footwork immediately positions him to be\r\na force on the right side, while Garnett's extensive experience at\r\nthe Cardinal's 'Ogre' position should help him in his quest to fill\r\nYankey's big shoes on the left side. Stanford's biggest questions\r\ncome at center and right guard, where Shuler and Caspers have not\r\nseen nearly as much playing time as their other three classmates.\r\n\r\nCaspers has added about 30 pounds of strength since his arrival at\r\nStanford, and that physical development earned him some time at the\r\nOgre spot in 2013. Meanwhile, Shaw has regarded Shuler as the\r\nCardinal's most athletic center in this era of unprecedented\r\nsuccess. The junior will be counted on to have a full mental grasp\r\nof the position that directs the offensive line. \r\n\r\nDepth of the Hogs\r\nSince Stanford employs more than five offensive linemen in many of\r\nits formations, its depth up front will be truly tested next season.\r\nDillon Bonnell, who played the Ogre in 2012 before Garnett unseated\r\nhim at that spot in 2013, has a fifth year of eligibility remaining\r\nand can presumably re-assume his old role moving forward. Tackle\r\nBrendon Austin (6-6, 304 pounds) has developed well physically, and\r\nis certainly in position to earn playing time next season. Nick Davidson (6-7, 289 pounds) is a year younger, and another offseason\r\nof strengthening can put him in line to contribute as well. Amongst\r\nthe youngsters, freshman Thomas Oser's versatility should make him a\r\nvaluable utility next season. Walk-on Lucas Hinds (6-4, 290) also\r\nhas intriguing size.\r\n\r\nLine coach Mike Bloomgren has done a fantastic job developing the\r\nCardinal's front and coordinating the team's running game. The 2014\r\nseason offers him a unique yet promising challenge: On signing day\r\nin 2012, some said Stanford's offensive line haul could become the\r\nbest in college football history. With Yankey, Fleming, Khalil Wilkes, and Kevin Danser all departing, the opportunity is there to\r\ntranslate stellar recruiting rankings into dominant on-field\r\nperformance.\r\n\r\nA Big Question Mark at Free Safety\r\nReynolds' departure opens a precarious void in Stanford's\r\ndefensive backfield. Devon Carrington, the Cardinal's second-string\r\nfree safety, exhausted his eligibility this season, so the Cardinal\r\nwill now be forced to scramble to effectively fill the position. The\r\nsituation has been complicated by the medical retirement of Drew Madhu (concussions), who was Reynolds' heir apparent at the\r\nposition. \r\n\r\nA Zach Hoffpauir move to free safety appears unlikely. He came into\r\nStanford as a strong safety and has since moved to contribute at\r\nnickel back, where he'll likely be needed to at least partially fill\r\nUsua Amanam's void next year. The Cardinal have moved quarterback\r\nDallas Lloyd to the safety position. He played there early in his\r\nhigh school career and certainly has the physical build (6-3, 212\r\npounds) to handle the job. In the interview below, Lloyd told me\r\nthat his experience as a quarterback will help him learn the mental\r\naspect of the safety position. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nStanford may also consider moving cornerback Wayne Lyons to free\r\nsafety. He was a highly touted recruit at that position coming out\r\nof high school and showed the necessary physical prowess in run\r\nsupport from cornerback in 2013. Such a move would open up a spot on\r\nthe perimeter opposite Alex Carter, and Ronnie Harris would\r\npresumably be a leading candidate to start in Lyons' place.\r\n\r\nTucker De-Commits: A Recruiting Blow\r\nThe Cardinal's incoming recruiting class has some talent in the\r\ndefensive backfield, too, and early playing time for one of next\r\nyear's incoming freshman should not be ruled out, either. Safeties\r\nBrandon Simmons and Denzel Franklin are both expected to sign with\r\nStanford on February 5. The class did suffer a blow, though, when\r\nGeorgia speedster Kirk Tuckerwas\r\nnot admitted to Stanford. He de-committed from the school on\r\nWednesday and is reopening his recruitment. \r\n\r\nIt all adds up to a rather precarious situation in Stanford's\r\ndefensive backfield. It's one that can be quickly fixed if Lloyd can\r\nmake an effective transition to the free safety position, but that\r\nobviously remains a big question mark at this early point in the\r\noffseason. A few key variables here have not broken in the\r\nCardinal's favor lately, so the program's ability to improvise and\r\nadapt will be put to the test in 2014.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFollow @DavidMLombardi\r\n\r\n

\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nDavid Lombardi is the Stanford\r\nInsider for The Bootleg. Check him out at www.davidlombardisports.com\r\nand follow him on Twitter @DavidMLombardi.\r\n\r\n

Are you fully subscribed to The\r\nBootleg? If not, then you are missing out on\r\nall the top Cardinal coverage we provide daily on our\r\naward-winning website. Sign up today for the biggest and best in\r\nStanford sports coverage with TheBootleg.com\r\n(sign-up)!

\r\n\r\n\r\n","mobileBody":" Follow @DavidMLombardi Days after A.J. Tarpley and Henry Anderson announced their intentions to return to Stanford for their fifth years of eligibility, David Yankey, Ed Reynolds, and Cam Fleming all declared for the NFL Draft. Yankey and Reynolds were expected to leave, while Fleming appeared to have to the toughest decision of the players deciding what to do with their fifth year of eligibility. On track to finish his degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics this year, he ultimately decided to go pro a day before the January 15 deadline. \"I'm not leaving here without my degree,\" Fleming told me before the Rose Bowl. That means the future is now for Stanford -- particularly along the offensive line and at the safety position. David Shaw did fantastic work on the recruiting trail in his first year on the head coaching job, and those efforts will be thrust into the spotlight in 2014: All five projected starters on the Cardinal's offensive line will be products of the program's heralded 2012 class. Left tackle Andrus Peat will be the only one with a full season's worth of starting experience. Josh Garnett, the likely left guard, has started one game. The projections for center, right guard, and right tackle reside with Graham Shuler, Johnny Caspers, and Kyle Murphy, respectively. If those three earn nods at those positions, they'll be forced to gel quickly, as the September 6 match-up against USC will mark just their second career start. The 6-foot-7, 318-pound Peat is first round material, and some have even speculated that he may leave to the NFL after his junior season. Murphy's fantastic footwork immediately positions him to be a force on the right side, while Garnett's extensive experience at the Cardinal's 'Ogre' position should help him in his quest to fill Yankey's big shoes on the left side. Stanford's biggest questions come at center and right guard, where Shuler and Caspers have not seen nearly as much playing time as their other three classmates. Caspers has added about 30 pounds of strength since his arrival at Stanford, and that physical development earned him some time at the Ogre spot in 2013. Meanwhile, Shaw has regarded Shuler as the Cardinal's most athletic center in this era of unprecedented success. The junior will be counted on to have a full mental grasp of the position that directs the offensive line. Since Stanford employs more than five offensive linemen in many of its formations, its depth up front will be truly tested next season. Dillon Bonnell, who played the Ogre in 2012 before Garnett unseated him at that spot in 2013, has a fifth year of eligibility remaining and can presumably re-assume his old role moving forward. Tackle Brendon Austin (6-6, 304 pounds) has developed well physically, and is certainly in position to earn playing time next season. Nick Davidson (6-7, 289 pounds) is a year younger, and another offseason of strengthening can put him in line to contribute as well. Amongst the youngsters, freshman Thomas Oser's versatility should make him a valuable utility next season. Walk-on Lucas Hinds (6-4, 290) also has intriguing size. Line coach Mike Bloomgren has done a fantastic job developing the Cardinal's front and coordinating the team's running game. The 2014 season offers him a unique yet promising challenge: On signing day in 2012, some said Stanford's offensive line haul could become the best in college football history. With Yankey, Fleming, Khalil Wilkes, and Kevin Danser all departing, the opportunity is there to translate stellar recruiting rankings into dominant on-field performance. Reynolds' departure opens a precarious void in Stanford's defensive backfield. Devon Carrington, the Cardinal's second-string free safety, exhausted his eligibility this season, so the Cardinal will now be forced to scramble to effectively fill the position. The situation has been complicated by the medical retirement of Drew Madhu (concussions), who was Reynolds' heir apparent at the position. A Zach Hoffpauir move to free safety appears unlikely. He came into Stanford as a strong safety and has since moved to contribute at nickel back, where he'll likely be needed to at least partially fill Usua Amanam's void next year. The Cardinal have moved quarterback Dallas Lloyd to the safety position. He played there early in his high school career and certainly has the physical build (6-3, 212 pounds) to handle the job. In the interview below, Lloyd told me that his experience as a quarterback will help him learn the mental aspect of the safety position. Stanford may also consider moving cornerback Wayne Lyons to free safety. He was a highly touted recruit at that position coming out of high school and showed the necessary physical prowess in run support from cornerback in 2013. Such a move would open up a spot on the perimeter opposite Alex Carter, and Ronnie Harris would presumably be a leading candidate to start in Lyons' place. The Cardinal's incoming recruiting class has some talent in the defensive backfield, too, and early playing time for one of next year's incoming freshman should not be ruled out, either. Safeties Brandon Simmons and Denzel Franklin are both expected to sign with Stanford on February 5. The class did suffer a blow, though, when Georgia speedster Kirk Tuckerwas not admitted to Stanford. He de-committed from the school on Wednesday and is reopening his recruitment. It all adds up to a rather precarious situation in Stanford's defensive backfield. It's one that can be quickly fixed if Lloyd can make an effective transition to the free safety position, but that obviously remains a big question mark at this early point in the offseason. A few key variables here have not broken in the Cardinal's favor lately, so the program's ability to improvise and adapt will be put to the test in 2014. Follow @DavidMLombardiTweet

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